Current Affairs Ukraine

[Eidean]

Not suspicious AT ALL.

Three Russian oil tankers always sink within a week of each other.

Russian ship under US sanctions sinks after engine room blast

Ursa Major ran into trouble in the Mediterranean between Spain and Algeria, with two crew still missing.

www.bbc.co.uk

Sorry for your loss.

 

[Spadge Vernacular]

 

[Xizor]

Glorious christmas potatoes

Russian Defense Ministry loses a cargo ship off the coast of spain after explosion

Owned by the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ursa Major sinks off the coast of Spain with valuable cargo. A sanctioned Russian cargo vessel, the Ursa Major, has sunk in the Mediterranean Sea following an explosion in its engine room off the coast of Spain. The incident occurred in international...

kyivinsider.com

Why are the sloppy Russian shipbuilders and maintenance engineers escalating this war? Don't they know we need peace?

 

[Rita_Poon]

Why are the sloppy Russian shipbuilders and maintenance engineers escalating this war? Don't they know we need peace?

Pished up at the wheel I heard. Bloody Sunday drivers...

 

[Drico]

On 1 January 2025, a major contract governing the transit of Russian gas through Ukraine will end, with significant implications for remaining Russian gas exports to some European Union countries. Despite the war in Ukraine, gas has continued to flow through a pipeline via the country and there has been no significant disruption to these gas supplies so far, even though Ukraine as part of its incursion into Russia’s Kursk region has taken control of the only active metering station for the entry of Russian gas to Ukraine, at Sudzha. The end of the transit contract will mark an important shift because gas via Ukraine governed by the contract currently accounts for half of Russia’s remaining pipeline gas exports to the EU and a third of total Russian gas exports.


....hold on, the Ukrainian government have been talking about the immorality of buying Russian oil and gas...and they've been maintaining this gas pipeline running through their own land for the whole of the war, and only now do they threaten to shut it down?

WTaF?!

Old news. The Ukrainian logic was, understandly enough, that Europeans could keep taking Russian gas providing the Ukrainians benefited from it. But yeah, their willingness to shame the people of countries that had Russian gas deals - and demand our help regardless - did sort of stick in the craw a bit. Especially as our energy bills rocketed when we weaned ourselves off.

But we are off. Germany takes next to nothing now. Which is a great achievement (if expensive for ordinary people). It also means Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria have NO EXCUSE for their continuing to suck on Putin's energy teat. The ordinary German will take a very dim view of special cases for those countries now. After all, if we had to do it, so can you.

If there's one thing I am looking forward to about Friedrich Merz likely becoming chancellor in the spring - and there isn't - it's that I hope to see a German leader sticking it properly to some of these hypocritical cuckoo-like "neighbours".

 

[bluestevon]

Old news. The Ukrainian logic was, understandly enough, that Europeans could keep taking Russian gas providing the Ukrainians benefited from it. But yeah, their willingness to shame the people of countries that had Russian gas deals - and demand our help regardless - did sort of stick in the craw a bit. Especially as our energy bills rocketed when we weaned ourselves off.

But we are off. Germany takes next to nothing now. Which is a great achievement (if expensive for ordinary people). It also means Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria have NO EXCUSE for their continuing to suck on Putin's energy teat. The ordinary German will take a very dim view of special cases for those countries now. After all, if we had to do it, so can you.

If there's one thing I am looking forward to about Friedrich Merz likely becoming chancellor in the spring - and there isn't - it's that I hope to see a German leader sticking it properly to some of these hypocritical cuckoo-like "neighbours".

Not too sure a German leader trying to stick it to the neighbours historically tends to end very well for Germany.

 

[Drico]

Not too sure a German leader trying to stick it to the neighbours historically tends to end very well for Germany.

Or others. Be careful what you wish for, then.

 

[davek]

Old news. The Ukrainian logic was, understandly enough, that Europeans could keep taking Russian gas providing the Ukrainians benefited from it. But yeah, their willingness to shame the people of countries that had Russian gas deals - and demand our help regardless - did sort of stick in the craw a bit. Especially as our energy bills rocketed when we weaned ourselves off.

But we are off. Germany takes next to nothing now. Which is a great achievement (if expensive for ordinary people). It also means Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria have NO EXCUSE for their continuing to suck on Putin's energy teat. The ordinary German will take a very dim view of special cases for those countries now. After all, if we had to do it, so can you.

If there's one thing I am looking forward to about Friedrich Merz likely becoming chancellor in the spring - and there isn't - it's that I hope to see a German leader sticking it properly to some of these hypocritical cuckoo-like "neighbours".

They have every excuse: their standards of living (Hungary and Slovakia at least) are way below the average German citizens'. Fuel increases in the wake of that pipeline being shut down would impoverish its people further and destabilise their governments.

It's yet more reason to get this war over and done with. The disruption its caused on every level you care to use. A disaster for Ukraine and a hugely unnecessary economic event for the rest of Europe.

 

[Drico]

They have every excuse: their standards of living (Hungary and Slovakia at least) are way below the average German citizens'. Fuel increases in the wake of that pipeline being shut down would impoverish its people further and destabilise their governments.

Itlls yet more reason to get this war over and done with. The disruption its caused one every level is appalling in almost all indicators you care to use. A disaster for Ukraine and a hugely unnecessary economic event for the rest of Europe.

They had three years to wean themselves off. They refused.

They were given extensions to allow them to wean themselves off. They refused.

And no, Austria does not have living standards inferior to those of Germans. They took a political choice.

Just as the Germans were hammered for their political choices in doing business with Russia - and we were all told they were bad choices - then the same applies to Austria. And we know full well that Orban and Fico are simply Russian stooges. I suspect 2025 won't be a great year for those two...

 

[bluestevon]

Or others. Be careful what you wish for, then.

Ok, what you are suggesting is that Germany stuck it to their neighbours who don't agree with them.

Very democratic. Won't at all undermine the EU.

How about Germany properly investigates who blew up their pipeline? Which actually is an act of war against Germany btw, unless ofc Germany isn't really a sovereign nation these days but just a puppet or client state

 

[bluestevon]

They have every excuse: their standards of living (Hungary and Slovakia at least) are way below the average German citizens'. Fuel increases in the wake of that pipeline being shut down would impoverish its people further and destabilise their governments.

It's yet more reason to get this war over and done with. The disruption its caused on every level you care to use. A disaster for Ukraine and a hugely unnecessary economic event for the rest of Europe.

Unless I'm very wrong, I though the EU wasn't a government body that dictated obedience to it

Seems that being a member of the EU means giving up sovereign choices on decisions.

According to the guy you responded too, the sovereignty lies with Germany, seem to remember the time they last tried to be the decider of all European countries decisions

 

[bluestevon]

They had three years to wean themselves off. They refused.

They were given extensions to allow them to wean themselves off. They refused.

And no, Austria does not have living standards inferior to those of Germans. They took a political choice.

Just as the Germans were hammered for their political choices in doing business with Russia - and we were all told they were bad choices - then the same applies to Austria. And we know full well that Orban and Fico are simply Russian stooges. I suspect 2025 won't be a great year for those two...

And shy exactly should any of those countries follow German policy ?

Are they not independent states?

Russian stooges, then wtf are the leaders of most European countries except US stooges, but that's ok I guess?

 

[Rita_Poon]

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

They have every excuse: their standards of living (Hungary and Slovakia at least) are way below the average German citizens'. Fuel increases in the wake of that pipeline being shut down would impoverish its people further and destabilise their governments.

It's yet more reason to get this war over and done with. The disruption its caused on every level you care to use. A disaster for Ukraine and a hugely unnecessary economic event for the rest of Europe.

Been to Slovakia or Hungary much, D?

 

[Hinchcliffe's Corner]

Merry Xmas all, hope you all enjoy your roast spuds tomorrow x